Karachi: Pakistan recorded a historic and emphatic 341-run victory over India in the third and final Test at the National Stadium yesterday.
The architects of this triumph were the accurate Abdul Razzaq (4 for 88) and Mohammad Asif (3 for 48) who destroyed India's famed batting line up to bowl them out for 265 runs in the second innings and avenge last series defeat at home.
Chasing a mammoth target of 607 to win, the Indians surrendered meekly before the fighting spirit of a Pakistan team, who were minus their skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Down in the dumps at 39 for six in the first hour of the first day, Pakistan fought their way back to the top.
This Test will go down in the history of Pakistan cricket for the bravery and resolve of their players. The skills of the Indian batsmen were no match for a fiery Pakistan attack. Indians have thus surrendered the rubber they had won through their historic triumph in Pakistan in 2004.It was the second biggest defeat for the Indians in Test cricket. India's biggest defeat before this Test was their 432-run loss against Australia at Nagpur in 2004. It was, on the other hand, Pakistan's biggest margin of victory in Test history.
When the Indians batted, the wicket never looked like having lost its bite. However, in the morning when Pakistan occupied the crease, it looked like a pitch made for runs.
Razzaq began the day's proceedings by square driving the third ball of the first over from Rudra Pratap Singh to the boundary. He reached his 50 (98b, 3x4, 2x6) and went for his shots.
He lifted Irfan Pathan and Anil Kumble for sixes. Faisal Iqbal also hit a six off Tendulkar to illustrate that the hosts were on the lookout for quick runs.
Iqbal, going for a mighty hit, then skied Zaheer into the hands of Tendulkar at long on at 139 (220b, 16x4, 1x6). All eyes were on Razzaq and his impending century. But he was dismissed at 90 (141b, 5x4, 4x6) by lifting Kumble into the hands of Yuvraj at long on.
Pakistan declared at 599 for seven, leaving the Indians to chase 607 runs for victory.
The Indian batsmen needed to bat 164 overs to save the Test. All that was required was patience and mental strength to counter the Pakistan attack, but that was in short supply.
Shoaib Akhtar had skipper Rahul Dravid caught behind for two to trigger one of India's most shameful performances.
Young Mohammad Asif then sent Virender Sehwag's middle stump flying with a beauty that curved in. Two down for only eight, Pakistan went for the kill.
V.V.S. Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar put on 55 runs for the third wicket before Asif produced another gem to clean bowl Laxman for 21. In walked Ganguly, who captained India to a historic victory in the last tour of Pakistan. A spirited Asif meanwhile, clean bowled Tendulkar with a ball that kept low.
With the cream of the Indian batting wiped out for just 74 runs, the mantle of lifting India to a respectable total fell on Ganguly and Yuvraj. The pair kept the score board moving and steered India to 177 for four by tea.
Ganguly, who was playing quite fluently, then got beaten by the pace of a Razzaq delivery and was trapped leg before for 37. The pair had added 103 runs in 120 balls, the biggest partnership of the innings. But no one had expected the Indian innings to fold up before close. Razzaq then had Dhoni and Pathan caught at slips. He also claimed Yuvraj, who hit a valiant 122 (144b, 19x4, 1x6) caught behind to bring down the curtains on the Indian innings.
Pakistan (first innings) 245
India (first innings) 238
Pakistan (second innings)
(Overnight 511 for five)
Faisal Iqbal c Tendulkar b Zaheer 139
Shahid Afridi c Tendulkar b Singh 60
Abdul Razzaq c Yuvraj b Kumble 90
Kamran Akmal not out 0
Extras (7b, 7lb, 1w, 11nb) 26
Total (For seven wickets decl.) 599
Overs: 140.1.
Fall of wickets: 6-598, 7-599.
Bowling: Pathan 25-3-106-1, Zaheer Khan 28-4-103-1, Rudra Pratap Singh 24-1-115-1, Kumble 37.1-3-151-3, Ganguly 16-1-68-1 Sehwag 1-0-2-0, Tendulkar 9-0-40-0.
India (2nd Innings)
Virender Sehwag b Asif 4
Rahul Dravid c Akmal b Akhtar 2
V. V. S. Laxman b Asif 21
Sachin Tendulkar b Asif 26
Sourav Ganguly lbw b Razzaq 37
Yuvraj Singh c Akmal b Razzaq 122
Mahendra Dhoni c Farhat b Razzaq 18
Irfan Pathan c Iqbal b Razzaq 4
Anil Kumble c Farhat b Kaneria 5
Zaheer Khan b Kaneria 10
Rudra Pratap Singh not out 0
Extras (7b, 5w, 4nb) 16
Total (all out) 265.
Overs: 58.4.
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-8, 3-63, 4-74, 5-177, 6-208, 7-216, 8-231, 9-251, 10-265.
Bowling: Akhtar 8-1-37-1, Asif 12-1-48-3, Razzaq 18.4-0-88-4, Kaneria 18-0-75-2, Afridi 2-0-10-0.
Umpires: Daryl Harper, Australia and Simon Taufel, Australia.
TV Umpire: Asad Rauf, Pakistan. Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle, Sri Lanka.
Result: Pakistan won by 341 runs.
Toss: Won by India.
Series: Pakistan wins three-Test series 1-0.
Man of the Match: Kamran Akmal.
Man of the Series: Younis Khan.
